Waterville pedestrian in critical condition after being struck by SUV, police say

WATERVILLE, Maine — A Waterville man was in critical condition Friday at a Portland hospital after he was struck by an SUV on College Avenue on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Jeremy Kraft, 51, was attempting to cross the road near the Getchell Street intersection when he was struck by a Jeep Patriot driven by Matthew Crate, 34, of Waterville, according to Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey.

The accident occurred around 5 p.m., Rumsey said. Crate was heading southbound on College Avenue and Kraft had taken only a couple of steps in the roadway when he was struck.

“He was thrown about 15 feet in the air,” Rumsey said.

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Kraft was transported to MaineGeneral Hospital’s Thayer campus before LifeFlight airlifted him to Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to Rumsey.

Rumsey said it’s unclear whether Kraft was wearing dark clothing at the time of the accident, which remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.